Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent (Divergent #1)

Author: Veronica Roth

Pages: Hardcover 489 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books

Date Published: May 3^rd 2011

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

My Rating: 

 

Goodreads

Beatrice”Tris” Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage atwhich teenagers in Veronica Roth’s dystopian Chicago must select which of fivefactions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor,Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and herselfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Herchoice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group,but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortaldanger. Veronica Roth’s young adult Divergent trilogy launches with acaptivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extremecircumstances.

My Review

Not my favoritebook but does deserve five stars because it really was great. Many comparedthis to The Hunger Game and I can seewhy. They are very different books but it gives you that same feeling of thecharacters having no other choice but to live by what society has planned foryou. You can say, “well it sounds like any other dystopian story” but it’s alittle more than that. Oh and also that “I can’t stop reading it” feeling. Bythe way, if you have not read The HungerGames yet you have not lived. Back to Divergent,it had great characters and good twists. The romance was not overworkedlike most YA books. There was plenty of action. It was also perfectly pacedwhich is something you have to appreciate because it is one thing not everyauthor can accomplish so effortlessly.

Another book Icould not put down. Excited for the second book to come out!

I recommend thisbook to everyone. I believe there is a little something for everyone in thisstory.

 

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Title: Water for Elephants

Author: Sara Gruen

Pages: Paperback 335 pages

Publisher: Algonquin Books

Date Published: April 9^th 2006

Genre: Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance

My Rating: 

Goodreads

Though he may not speak of them, the memories stilldwell inside Jacob Jankowski’s ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories ofhimself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home tothe Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filledwith freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a worldwith its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way ofdeath. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a livinghell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out – orphanedand penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive ‘ship offools’. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in thisthird-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of theequestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, ahandsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was therebecause she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be thesalvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn’t have an act – infact, she couldn’t even follow instructions. The bond that grew among thisunlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hopefor survival.

My Review

Aninety-something year old remembering his days working for a circus during TheGreat Depression.  Doesn’t sound asinteresting? Yeah that is what I thought until I read it and it was more thanjust a book to me.

This book hasjoined My Favorites list. I was not expecting much from this book; actually Iexpected to not like it. I only read it because the movie was coming out but Iseriously fell in love with it. A well-written and well-researched book. Veryunique and I really enjoy knowing that I learned a couple of things from itsince it is based on true historic events and I will admit I am not a bighistory fan so this helped me get into it.

I recommend thisbook to everyone, it is definitely a must read!

 

Wither (The Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Wither (The Chemical Garden #1)

Author: Lauren DeStefano

Pages: Hardcover 358 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’sPublishing

Date Published: March 22^nd 2011

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance

My Rating: 

 

Goodreads

Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Geneticmutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less formost women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated inpolygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old RhineEllery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to breakloose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challengeshe can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter withwings. Editor’s recommendation.

Better summary of the book go here!

My Review

Amazing.Absolutely, remarkable.

What a strangebook. By strange I mean this book goes nowhere but goes everywhere at the sametime. Confusing, I know. The setting of this story pretty much stays the samethroughout the whole book, you don’t go on an adventure like most in most booksbut this story proves that you don’t need to! From the beginning this book capturesthe reader’s attention, from there on you become part of the story. I seriouslyfelt I was there with the characters in that house, even felt imprisoned. Ifelt seriously connected with this book.

The only thing Ididn’t like about this book was the guy characters, Gabriel I can stand but Istill feel he was missing something but I really can’t handle Linden, I reallydislike his character he annoys me and even grosses me out I have no idea why.I like the rest of the characters, each one is very unique, my favorite isJenna, and even Linden’s father is an interesting character. This book wasdifferent, besides the love triangle, there is no book like it, the story wasmorbid at times, I just loved it.

Okay one lastthing, out of all the books I’ve read I have only cried with at the most three,not even One Day made me cry, itshard for me to get emotional with just anything, but this book had a sectionwhere I couldn’t help it, it was way too sad and unexpected.

I recommend thisbook to EVERYONE!

 

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead

Title: Vampire Academy

Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Date Published: August 16^th 2007

Genre: Young Adult

My Rating: 

 

Goodreads

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

My Review

Dhampir are half-vampires and guardians to the Moroi, or mortal vampires. Rose is a Dhampir or at least training to be and her best friend Lissa is a Moroi and a very important one at that. At the beginning Lissa and Rose are on the run but from who exactly? From what? They are running from the people that want to keep them safe from the Strigoi, the most evil undead.

The Strigoi feed on the blood of innocents. Are the Strigoi really the only ones coming after Lissa?

This book is full of mystery and the unraveling of the story is so intriguing. It is a dark, mysterious and at the same time has its typical high school drama type of stuff going on and I know what you might be thinking, deal breaker right there right? Well trust me I would have thought the same thing but to be honest, it is very different, very mature. Yes mature, I felt this book was a little more mature than most vampire books in the Young Adult genre, maybe it’s just me. The ending is unbelievable by the way as well, something to look forward to if you are planning to read it. There really isn’t anything negative to say about this book. Great beginning for a series.

I recommend this book for people who are into vampire books… okay I will say this now and please no one hit me, yes this book is way better than Twilight. The story is better and the characters are better. Yes even the guys in this story are better. Don’t believe me? Read it!

Again, forgive me for comparing.

 

Review: The Lying Game (The Lying Game #1) by Sara Shepard

Title: The Lying Game (The Lying Game #1)

Author: Sara Shepard

Publisher: HarperTeen

Date Published: December 7^th 2011

Genre: YA, Mystery/Thriller

My Rating:

Goodreads

I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin.

My Review

I seriously fell in love with Sara Shepard after reading the first three books in the Pretty Little Liars series. The Lying Game is just as good or might even be better. The Lying Game is full of suspense and mystery. It was very addicting. The idea of the story was so intriguing and Shepard really made it work.

Sutton is the twin that got the good life while Emma is stuck in foster care. Now they are seventeen years old and they are getting the chance to meet each other for the first time, or so they think. When Emma gets to the location where they had planned to meet, Sutton is a no show. After that everything becomes a scary movie for Emma. Now that Sutton is dead, someone is determined on making Emma pretend to be her sister. The story is told from Sutton’s point of view, which is a very interesting twist.

If you liked Pretty Little Liars you will surely love this new series, The Lying Game.

 

Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Title: Before I Fall

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date Published: March 2^nd 2010

Genre: Young Adult Fiction
My Rating: 

Goodreads

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

My Review

    Samantha Kingston lives a great life; she is popular, has great friends and even has the “perfect” boyfriend. This story is based on Samantha’s last day alive… except in a way it’s not. Samantha re-lives the same day of her death seven times. You may decide to believe it is something like deja vu or chances; to make things right perhaps?

    At the beginning I didn’t like Sam and I don’t think anyone will which I believe it is how it was meant to be. She is just your typical bully I think it’s the easiest way to put it. It makes the readers wonder if she is going to change for the good with so many chances to re-live or if she was never worth it.

    Samantha’s extra days consists of her family, who she is no longer as close with as she used to be, friends, who seem to be her best friends and have her back, her old friend who might be the only real friend and a boyfriend who might not be so perfect after all.

    A day repeated seven times? How can that possibly not get boring? Well it doesn’t. Oliver manages to repeat the same day several times without it actually repeating. Each day it’s something totally different and you think you know what is coming but don’t get too ahead of yourself.

    I really recommend this book to teens because I feel there is many things you can learn from it and I know there is many people like Samantha out there and it might just help them identify themselves as well. In Overall, Before I Fall is a great story that will make you think about your own life and appreciate it.






Check out my review for Lauren Oliver’s Delirium

 

Review: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Date Published: Oct. 1 2008

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
My Rating:

Goodreads
Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don’t live to see the morning? 

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. 

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

This had been a draft review for the longest time. I just couldn’t seem to put my thoughts into words. This book was seriously amazing. The concept and characters were great. This story was really engaging and it was really hard to put down. Some ideas and names can be recognized from Greek mythology stories which I didn’t know until someone pointed it out to me.

The setting is in an unspecified future after North America was destroyed by its own humanity and what was left of it was divided into 13 districts. One of those districts didn’t last long, after they tried to rebel against the Capital, which is the government in charge of all districts. Because of that rebellion and the hopes that the event would not repeat, the Capital creates an annual event where people will be reminded that it isn’t a very good idea to even think about trying to overthrow the Capital. Two kids from each district, a boy and a girl, all come together to fight on live television, only one being able to survive. This is where Katniss comes in to the story. Katniss is a 16-year-old girl who lives with her mother and little sister. Katniss becomes involved in the games along with another boy and from there many things begin to occur.

This book is seriously one of my favorites. I even got my mom a Spanish version of The Hunger Games so she could get into reading. My mom was never interested in reading and she said she never would be, until my brother and I made her read this book and I was really surprised when she couldn’t put it down! The only bad part is that she keeps bugging me about getting her the second part Catching Fire.


I don’t think anyone can hate this book, yes there is a lot of violence but I don’t consider it a bad thing because it all meant something. What I loved the most after its symbolism and all the meanings, were all the twists and turns! There was a surprise in every corner, I recommend this book to everyone. Like I said, there isn’t anything negative I can say about this book… neither can my mom.

 

Review: Flawless by Sara Shepard

Title: Flawless (Pretty Little Liars #2)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date Published: March 15th 2007
Genre: Young Adult
My Rating:

Spencer stole her sister’s boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. Hanna’s obsession with looking flawless is making her sick. And their most horrible secret yet is so scandalous that the truth would ruin them forever.

And why shouldn’t I tell? They deserve to lose it all. With every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message I send, I’ll be taking these pretty little liars down. Trust me, I’ve got enough dirt to bury them alive.

I love the way Sara Shepard makes it seem like A is talking directly at you. I love the way it ended, not exactly the end of the story but literally the end once it goes through “About the author” then there is a “What is next…” and suddenly A is there telling you it isn’t over and giving you hints of what is next to come, it is creepy in a way that I can’t help but wanting more of A. At certain points I felt the story wasn’t getting anywhere but then I was sucked into it all over again.

Spencer: She is the all A’s, everything should be perfect girl and she seems to have a bit of trouble staying away from her sister’s boyfriends. I don’t dislike her for it though, I don’t necessarily believe it’s her fault and I have to admit I really dislike her sister.

Hanna: She does some “not so pretty” things to stay fabulous or should i say flawless. I understand why she does the things she does, both her parents have trouble communicating with their daughter. She also has an issue with her father who is getting married again. Hanna finally gets to see her father again after a couple of years but is having some trouble getting his full attention.

Aria: Her family is falling apart. Aria is now into another boy. In my opinion, Aria should stay away from her friend’s ex-boyfriends (yes i said it) and should go back with her English teacher, that was my favorite part of the story and now its is gone… at least for now.

Emily: Sweet, innocent Emily can’t stop thinking about her friend Maya, more like girls in general. Emily is also getting involved with who is believed to be dangerous and most likely Allison’s murderer. I believe Emily should follow her heart and for her new guy “friend”, she should give him a chance or maybe she should even… run?

I do feel sorry for Spencer, Hanna, Aria and Emily but i can’t help myself from loving the chaos they are in. They are a complete train wreck and I’M LOVIN’ IT!




Review: Pretty Little Liars (#1) by Sara Shepard

 

Review: The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Title: The Last Song
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Date Published: Sept. 1st 2009
Genre: Romance
My Rating:

Seventeen-year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father…until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer with him. Resentful and rebellious, Ronnie rejects her father’s attempts to reach out to her and threatens to return to New York before the summer’s end. But soon Ronnie meets Will, the last person she ever thought she’d be attracted to, and finds herself falling for him, opening herself to the greatest happiness–and pain–that she has ever known.


Ronnie is forced to spend the summer with her father far from where she belongs and while she is in North Carolina ignoring her father, she meets certain people, some good and of course some you wouldn’t want to get involved with. Ronnie’s father makes a great attempt to regain Ronnie’s trust, still, she leaves the house as much as possible and leaves her father spending all his time with Ronnie’s little brother who doesn’t seem to have a problem with his father and actually enjoys the time spent together. It takes Ronnie some time to realize where it is that she really belongs. 
   About the romance part of the story i didn’t care that much about, don’t get me wrong I liked it but I was a lot more interested in Ronnie and her father’s relationship. That is one of the reasons I really enjoy reading Nicholas Sparks, he not only focuses on the romance and the “I-know-exactly-what-is-going-to-happen-to-these-two” but focuses plenty on what would be the reality to most love stories
   
I fell in love with this book. The only other book I have read from Sparks is Dear John and watched some of the movies. Even though his books are a bit depressing I do look forward to reading the rest. This story is incredible and in my case something I was able to relate to. Yes, a very sad story but I really do recommend it.


One of my favorite books!

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks Review

 

Review: Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars #1) by Sara Shepard

Title: Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars #1)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date Published: Oct. 1st 2006
Genre: Young Adult
My Rating:

Everyone has something to hide—especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna.  Spencer covets her sister’s boyfriend. Aria’s fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily’s crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful. But they’ve all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished. How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and all the dirty secrets they’ve kept. And guess what? I’m telling.


I have to say that i really loved this book, the story and the way it’s written is just great. When i first saw this book series at the book store they looked interesting but not enough to make me buy them, or so i thought. After a while I heard about the TV series coming out and I guess I just never paid attention of what the books were about all along because when i heard about it from the TV series preview it really caught my attention.
   
To know that one of your best friends is missing and maybe even dead then getting a message from them is just scary. Finding out she really is dead and getting another message from the same person talking about one of the secrets only your dead best friend knew is even more scary. This story really keeps you wondering and even when you think you know what is going on you really have no clue. And like many people, I don’t like drama but the drama in this story is great! It is seriously entertaining. I can admit I  enjoyed this book in a guilty pleasure kind of way. These girls have real interesting secrets that you fall in love with… yes you learn to love their “dark” secrets! 
-“secrets” in the book summary on top 😉
   
If you have seen the series on TV but haven’t read the books, I suggest you read the books because they are way better… of course..they always are. I really do like the TV show but the books show you how they are in no way innocent and obviously give you more detail. It is a quick read that i believe anyone can enjoy.






Review: Flawless (Pretty Little Liars #2) by Sara Shepard